brake pads

[slights]

So to summarize:

EBC green stuff, good more expensive less rotor wear
Hawk HP (S?) good, less expen, more rotor
Akebono ProAct good?

checked tirerack for ratings but one comment said akebono better than EBC, where tirerack only says the akebono is a stock (no better performing? than EBC or Hawk)

 

[The Critic]

Akebono ProACT- longest life, no noise, OE or slightly improvement over OE in terms of braking performance

Hawk HPS- shorter life, some noise, definite improvement over OE in terms of braking performance

I have no clue where the EBC stands but from what I can tell, they appear to be competing with the HPS so I'd assume that its characteristics are similar.

 

[mikeinaustin]

I just installed some Akebono ProACT pads on my truck, not just no noise, but also very little if any dust. braking power is really the same as the stock pads. i also went with plain rotors.

 

[The Critic]

Mike,

Did you use the moly grease when you installed the pads? Just curious.

 

[JustinH]

My opinion on replacing pads only, and using them on used rotors.

Its a good way to chew up and groove rotors in short fashion.

Especially the ceramics.

Replace the rotors when you do the pads in most cases.

 

[pidster]

I put in hawk HPS pads and new brembo rotors (stock replacement, no grooves or slots or anything) last year. Much better bite. Definitely dustier than my OEM Toyota pads. No excessive grooves/wear to the rotor so far. They do have a bit of a metallic squeak to them under light loads, only some days. Not loud enough to be embarrasing.

I would buy these again.

Never tried the EBC pads.

 

[The Critic]

Quote:

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My opinion on replacing pads only, and using them on used rotors.

Its a good way to chew up and groove rotors in short fashion.

Especially the ceramics.

Replace the rotors when you do the pads in most cases.

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It happens, but not that often. Maybe it was just that particular set of Motorcraft rotors weren't suitable for the Akebonos. But yours is certainly the first time I've heard someone mention Akebonos pads causing excessive rotor wear.

 

[Mokanic]

Quote:

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How does a cheap 'plain' rotor result in less dust, water retention, and warping? It's rare for a rotor to warp, uneven pad deposits yes, but not warping. How is a cheap rotor easier to 'remachine'?

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It's common for rotors to warp especially those that gorillas refuse to use a torque wrench on. Many back-yard boys think turning rotors is a waste of time but they don't have to stand behind the work they do with a written warranty. Also, if you are having squeel problems with a certain pad and you didn't resurface the rotors don't automatically blame the pads;you put a new pad with a flat surface on a rotor with uneven grooves in it. That's to be expected. I have seen many Honda rotors of late that were out of parallel for no apparent reason. I will slap a set of pads on a customer's car without turning the rotors if that's what they insist on but it's clear there isn't any warranty on the job and i'd say at least 1/2 end up coming back before the pads are 50% worn out becouse they can't take the squeel and groaning anymore. The Akebonos are by far the best pad for the average driver. I see less complaints about noise and dust from them than other pads. I've thrown alot of slime green pads in the trash to put Akebono or Sumitomo ceramics on and they don't come back on me. That's good business.

 

[benjamming]

Warped brake disk from StopTech

 

[Tornado Red]

Benjamming: Terrific article, I learned a lot. Thanks.

 

[PandaBear]

FYI Akebonos is one of the OEM of Honda, the other OEM is Nissin.

 

[Tremo]

OK, let me be different. I like Bendix TitaniuMetalics on my car. They're quiet and stop great. Yeah, they do dust.

I did brakes on both my Camaro and the wife's Taurus. Both have 4 wheel disc. I used new Raybestos rotors all the way around. On the Taurus and the rear of the Camaro I used the PG Plus rotors, and I used BruteStops on the front of the Camaro. Bendix pads everywhere. Taurus stops like it ran into a brick wall. Camaro stops great.

One other thing you can do to improve braking is to replace the rubber lines going to the calibers with the braided stainless lines, they swell less so it gives you a firmer pedal. Earl's makes the good ones. Ditto their solo-bleeders.

 

[mikeinaustin]

Quote:

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Mike,

Did you use the moly grease when you installed the pads? Just curious.

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i used crc brake and caliper grease. shims came machine pressed onto the surface.

 

[The Critic]

Quote:

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i used crc brake and caliper grease. shims came machine pressed onto the surface.

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Interesting...did the OE Toyota pads also come with pressed shims?

The Akebono pads that I installed onto an Acura came with detachable, adhesive shims.

 

[mikeinaustin]

no, the toyota pads do not come with pressed shims. in fact, the akebono proact pads originally didn't either (though they included a shim kit). only recently have the gone to pressed in shims (at least for the set that works with my tundra).

 

[The Critic]

Interesting...

Why didn't you use the moly grease that was included with the Akebono pads? That grease is much better than the CRC or Permatex stuff.

 

[mikeinaustin]

mostly cause i had the crc stuff there with me as i was greasing the other parts of the brake system.